Actuator



Nov. 19, 1929. w. s. PRITCHARD Filed Feb. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l n m 3 w w W W MN l, MW

MSM

Nov 19, 1929. w; s. PRITCHARD ACTUATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7. 1927 Patented N t. 19, 1929 UNI D- STATE PATENT OFFICE f;

WILLIAM s. PRITGHARD, or] DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ssIcr von '10 uo'ron. rRonUo'rs'con- .roRA'rIon, ornn'rnorr, MIcnIG mA conronATIonoFnEwYoBx ACTUATOR Application 'filed February This invention relates to actuators and more particularly to plunger shafts whereinthe power receiving end and the power delivering end are arranged out of alignmentor at an angle to one another with means for transmitting the movement of one to the other of the'plunger parts.

The invention has as one of its objects to provide asimple, compact and efficient means for operatively' connecting two plungers arranged out of alignment or at an angle to one another so that a reciprocation of one causes a reciprocation of the other. In carrying the invention into execution I provide an angular or curved guide extending from'the end of one: plunger to the adjacent endof' the other land within this guide I arrange a plurality of filler elements in successive contactingrelation and in contact with the said 0 ends of the plungers.

this the operation of one plunger will cause a longitudinal displacement of the plurality of elementswithin the angular guide to thus causea corresponding movement of the other I plunger. The invention finds utility in connection with devices wherein it is necessary, expedient or desirable to arrange the operating means in one plane orangle and the part to "be operatedw-in another plane or angle. 1 This'construction may be used to particular advantage in connection, for instance,'with automobile lubricating systems wherein a lubricant, container is provided with a plunger extending exteriorly 7 thereof and 13. operable forforcingthelubricantfrom Within the container through the delivery conduits to the bearings or other points of; distribution. In order to avoid, the necessity of a stuffing box at the point in which the 40 plunger passes" out ofthe container it is necessary that the' plungeremerge fromthe container at a point adjacent the to thereof and" that the level of the'lubricant e below this point. -I-Iowever, inasmuch as it is-ofi i-V4.5 times necessary or desirable to arrange the As a consequence of 7, 1927. Serial No. 166,573.

operating'p'lunger in a substantially horizon tal plane some connection capable of transmit; ting the reciprocable' movement of the 'horizontal plunger to the substantially vertically arranged pump plunger must beprovided and it is in thisconnectionIthat-this invention finds particular'utility and is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. 7

- The present invention also'contemplates the provision of an adaptor plate providing means for mountingv and supporting the plungers in relative angular relation to one another and'the apparatus tobe operated in relation 'to the power delivering plunger. 'By means of this adaptor plate it is possible to maintain the'plunger and the apparatus to be operated-in their relative positions ir-: respective of whether the operatlng plunger 7 is disposed horizontally or vertically.

The advantages, utilityand-novel details of construction of an embodiment of my invention'wi'll be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewthrough a lubricant pum showing my invention as- 'sociated therewit ,and I V Figure'Q' is a view similar to Figure l show- 7 ing the plunger in a vertical position and furplate. a I l While the invention shouldnot be ;considered as limited in any respect to usesolely therillustrating the utility of the adaptor in connection with alubricant pump, never- I theless, this invention finds particular utility in connection with the lubricant pump illustrated and described in detail in my co-pending application, Serial No; 135,611, filed September 15,1926. 1 For the purpose of il- '35 lustrating the advantagesobtainable from the useof this invention inconnection with such a type of pump Iha-ve herein illustratedthe' same as including a'casing 10 designed to contain lubricant adapted to be forced th 99 r from under pressure by means of a plunger ing through which the plunger 11 moves is eliminated.

The housing 12 has the bore thereof slightly enlarged atits upper-end asindicated at 13 and is provided with a flange 14 through which bolts 15 pass for securing this housing to"the*ca"sing 10. Extending outwardly is a sleeve 16 the boreo'f which c'oincides'with the enlarged bore 13 of housing 12 to provide a V rection.

i angular position and alsoacts as spring compartment within which a spring 17 is arranged. This spring engages on the one hand in the bottom of the enlarged bore 1 3::andon the other hand' against a. head x18 prlovided-on plunger l'l. This spring is to normally urge plunger 11 in an'upward di- Operating; plunger =19 is reciprocably mofuntedina sleeve-like support or. housing 20ca'rriedby"anadaptor 21. V This adaptor, in the embodiment of the invention. herein illustrated; is substantially' V-shap'ed in cross sectionwithone1eg22 thereof acting as a sup eport'for" the housing 20 while the other leg 23 thereof is Isecured,"as for instance, by means of bolts i2i to tliep'ump casing 10. As a' co'n sequence the adaptor 21, in the, position of the partsjillustrated in Figure lfsup'ports operating plunger 19 in a substantially horizontal position pump plunger 11' in'a relative g i he pump casing 10. Theste'eve 1'6 gis recessed atone-end to receive a tub u'lar guide 25,'the' other end of whichis' sleeved within the support 20; Ar

I ran ged withinthe guide '25 is a plurality of s'pherical' el'ements or-balls'26 and designed to i fill thespace between theends ofthe'plungers 11 and 19 with one of the ballsat one end in engagement with thehead18 of plunger 11 and the-ballat the other end in engagem'ent wngnrhe heacl27 oi the plunger'1 9. The balls jar of *iron 'com'pressible material and fill the transversely and longitudinally of the guide 25. As a consequence pressure upon th'efknob 28 of the plunger 19 will cause the e balls -2-6-to be movedlongiti'ldinally ofguide fa nd cause a corresponding movement to be imparted to plunger 11. j This: movement "of the latter plunger is, against the action of fspifingil'lso that when pressure is relieved from plunger 19 spring 17 will return the parts to the position illustrated in Figure 1 wherein further movement is limited'yby the engagement of hcad 27'againstthe end of the nlarged bore in the supporting member 20; VWith this construction it is possibleto operate the pumppl'ung'er1 lbyimeans oi" an operat a support ing plunger arranged out of alignment or at an anglethereto. I v

In Figure 1 the reference character 29 indicates a vertical portion of a motor vehicle such, for instance, as the dash board or 1nstrument board and by. securing the leg 22 of the adaptor plate 21 to the'automobile part 29," as for instance, by means of bolt, 30 the plunger 19 for the pump plunger may be arranged in a position convenient to the operatorof thevehicle. n I v f 3 'By comparingFigure 1 with Figure 2 it will be noted that in the latter figure the position of the adaptor plate2l has been re:

versed" so that plunger 19 "is arranged in: a

vertical position andext'ends upwardly through the floor board 31. In some types of vehicles it will be found necessary or expedient to operate the; pump from the floor board and with the "present invention the adaptor-plate 21 provides means for maintaining the *relative position between the; parts :and at the same timeprovide means' for mounting the parts either upon the dash board or floor board-of the vehicle. V

While the angular vpower;transmitting shaft is illustrated as employed in connection" with a pair of reciprocating plungers' itfmay obviously be employed with equalfacility .in other connections wherein it is, desired to transmit movement from 'on-e'part to another arranged eitherfout of alignment or. atan anglezto one another. As a consequence, reservation is made tofmake such changes in the invention as may come within the purview of theaccorhpanying claims. What'I claim as my invention is 1. In combination a 7 pump casing, a pump plunger projecting-outwardly from the said casing, an adaptor platesupporting the said pump casing, an operating plunger arranged at anangle to the pump 'plungeryahousing for the operating plunger carried by the said adaptor pilateQ af-guide having onevend sleeved within the pump plunger housing and' me'ans Within the said guide for trans.- mittingjthe movement "o"f"the operating plunger to thelipum'p plunger.

v operating plunger, a housing for the operating plunger, anadaptor plate shaped to supportthe op erati'ng plunger housing fixed angular-Tee lationito the" said pum plunger, andxneans j j'3. In combination a pump casing, a pump plunger projecting upwardly from ithe' said leasing at fan" an le to, ithe horizontal; a hous;

ing for thesai pump'? plunger, an adaptor plate supporting the pump casing and" hay;

inga portion" surrounding {the said pump plunger housing, a-substantiallyhorizontally f'or transmittingthe 'rnovenient of theopera't- 111g plung'er ito'th'e said pump plunger. 7

a so

arranged operating plunger, a housing for the operating plunger, the said adaptor plate having a portion supporting the said operat ing plunger housing, a guide sleeved at one end in the operating plunger housing and at its other end in the pump plunger housing, and a plurality of spherical members Within the said guide for transmitting the move-.z I

ment of the operating plunger to the said pump plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. I

WILLIAM S. PRITOHARD. 

